Added on Sunday, November 1, 2026  Fish Poster

U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament

The 2026 U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament took place October 1-3 and drew an impressive 556 boats competing for more than $428,000 in prize money. As one of the most anticipated king mackerel events of the year, the tournament once again provided three days of fierce competition and memorable catches off Brunswick County.

Capt. Cody Knight and Team Freek-A-Leek topped the leaderboard with a 44.55 lb. king mackerel, earning a tournament-record $162,933 payday. Fishing aboard a 36′ Yellowfin, Knight was joined by his father Mark Knight, brothers Michael and Jacob Knight, uncle Brandon Knight, and longtime family friend Rodney Sherrill.

The road to victory was anything but smooth. Day one began under heavy fog that reduced visibility to only a few feet in places, making it difficult to catch bait and navigate through the fleet. They boated several smaller kings, but Team Freek-A-Leek never found the big fish they were looking for and watched what they believed was their best opportunity of the day pull free after a blistering run.

The frustrations continued into the second day. The crew worked several areas from Lockwood Folly Inlet toward Lighthouse Rock before eventually settling near the old river channel area. According to Knight, his father felt strongly about staying there, believing the area had historically produced many U.S. Open winners.

The decision paid off early, with the team quickly finding action once they got their spread in the water. However, another strong king escaped when a fish they believed could contend for the tournament lead made a long run but was ultimately cut off near a passing boat.

After losing two fish they felt could have been contenders, they were content to stick with the area and see how the final hours unfolded.

As the crew discussed whether they should make one final move, Brandon Knight looked around and offered a prediction, “I feel like there’s a late creeper in here somewhere.”

About five minutes later, the crew began bringing in their spread to freshen their baits. After one rod had already been retrieved, Rodney Sherrill picked up the right-long bait and started reeling it toward the boat when the rod suddenly doubled over.

At first, neither Sherrill nor the crew was even sure a fish had eaten the bait. Moments later, the drag came alive, and the fish tore off on a blistering run that had Knight immediately turning the Yellowfin in pursuit.

As the battle wore on, the fish made a wide loop around the boat before sliding just beneath the surface. That’s when Knight got his first good look at it.

“I looked at my dad and said, ‘That’s the one,'” Knight recalled. “‘We’re not hoping for first place. That’s the first-place fish.'”

The giant king repeatedly worked its way beneath the boat before finally rolling onto its side within range of the gaff. Jacob Knight made a perfect shot, ending the fight and igniting a celebration aboard Team Freek-A-Leek.

The king ultimately weighed 44.55 lbs. and vaulted Team Freek-A-Leek into first place. After weighing the fish, the crew returned to Little River and spent the rest of the afternoon gathered around the tournament livestream and watching boat after boat come to the scales in hopes their lead would hold.

It did.

The victory margin of more than six pounds was one of the largest in recent U.S. Open history, making the accomplishment even more special for Knight, who has spent most of his life chasing king mackerel and competing in tournaments throughout the Carolinas.

“The money’s great,” he said, “but your name is part of the history of that tournament forever. That’s what means the most.”

Capt. Clint Piner and Team Side Work secured second place with a 38.50 lb. king mackerel worth $94,885. Fishing alongside Justin Simmons and Bennett Brantley, Piner weighed the fish on the tournament’s opening morning and spent much of the weekend atop the leaderboard.

After spending time pre-fishing before the event, on day one the team arrived with confidence in the areas they planned to fish. They had one bite almost immediately, and that bite produced the team’s tournament fish, a 38.50-pound king that would ultimately hold second place. 

The crew spent the rest of the day bouncing between several areas and catching additional kings in the 15-20 lb. range, but they never found another fish capable of improving on their first fish.

Rounding out the top three was Capt. Rod Bierstedt and Team Pura Vida of Wilmington, whose 38.00 lb. king mackerel earned a third-place finish and $28,363 in winnings.

More information on the US Open KMT, including a full leaderboard and 2027 dates, can be found at www.usopenkmt.com.